Two-top tables in restaurants have got to go!

[Boopuff]

Has this ever happened to you? You and your companion arrive at a not-so-busy restaurant. Host routes you right to the crappy two-top table in the middle of nowhere. After you order two drinks the table top is already full, once the apps come out all the real estate is taken up. Then the server attempts to deliver the salads and procedes to remove all the salt/pepper and other items, hoping you're done with the apps (not!). And don't get me started on two-tops on a cruise ship with the "4 inch seperation between a long row of twos" UG!. Oh and heaven forbid you ask to be seated at a four-top, they'll give you the "look" and grudgingly relocate you. I will always ask for a 4 top. My fave story was a pizza joint, they couldn't fit the pizza on the two top! Banish all two-tops! Thanks for reading my rant today

 

[Dug720]

And don't get me started on two-tops on a cruise ship with the "4 inch seperation between a long row of twos"

Those 2-tops were intended to be together to be a 6-top or 8-top. But more and more people are demanding their own private table. There is only so much floor space on a ship - and there have to be a certain number of seats based on ship capacity (they cannot demand that some people eat in the buffet for dinner (where available) or pay for specialty restaurants because there aren't enough tables in the MDR because of lack of seats - so the only way to give individual tables is pull the larger ones back into their 2-tops. And since it has to fit in a set floor plan, they are going to be close together.

Oh and heaven forbid you ask to be seated at a four-top, they'll give you the "look" and grudgingly relocate you.

There's a good reason for that look. You are preventing a table of 4 - with the accompanying bill for 4 - from utilizing that table while you're providing less revenue as 2 people.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Whenever we eat out to where we have to get on a waiting list (Roadhouse, Olive Garden), we'll put in that we're a party of 4. And sometimes when we go to a sit down place, we'll tell them there's 4 of us. We're bigger people (I'm 6-4, 265), and I don't want to be crammed into a 2 top.

 

[Boopuff]

There's a good reason for that look. You are preventing a table of 4 - with the accompanying bill for 4 - from utilizing that table while you're providing less revenue as 2 people.

This is true, however, let's say it's a family of 4 mom, dad and two kids. Kids order kid meal, parents order meal. Table of two adults, might order alcohol, apps, desert. So it could just about come out even or two top could order several drinks, also bumping up the total bill. Still hate two-tops.

 

[mjkacmom]

This is true, however, let's say it's a family of 4 mom, dad and two kids. Kids order kid meal, parents order meal. Table of two adults, might order alcohol, apps, desert. So it could just about come out even or two top could order several drinks, also bumping up the total bill. Still hate two-tops.

Or it could be 4 adults who want drinks, apps, entrees and dessert. In most cases a bill for 4 will be more as 2. As for cruises, there was a time when they didn’t have 2 tops, they just sat strangers together, but it turns out most would rather a private table for 2.

 

[kdonnel]

My wife and I often split an entree, and almost never order an appetizer.
The 2 tops still have lots of leftover room in our case.


I miss the large cruise tables. My wife and I really enjoyed sitting with others at dinner and discussing everyone's day.


Back when we ate out often as a family of 6 (the in laws went often) I really enjoyed restaurants that had lots of 6 top tables.

I do not enjoy when restaurants add an extra chair or two and seat us at a table for 4 or 5 as a party of 6.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Whenever we eat out to where we have to get on a waiting list (Roadhouse, Olive Garden), we'll put in that we're a party of 4. And sometimes when we go to a sit down place, we'll tell them there's 4 of us. We're bigger people (I'm 6-4, 265), and I don't want to be crammed into a 2 top.

We have places around here that won't sit you until your whole party is there and if you say 4 but really only have 2 they are much more likely to move you to a table that is meant for 2 and that may mean you wait and wait and wait. Not because they are trying to be mean but that it allows other parties to be sat. No one likes to be kept waiting and essentially you stand a chance to be affecting others who are trying to get in. If they aren't busy it's not as big of an issue but it only takes one cascading issue during a rush that creates a really bad domino effect.

As far as cramming in IME places that have issues with space it won't matter your party size or at least IME it's more like you don't have much room to push back your seat to get into it to sit down. Table size as in the dimensions of it are only 1 thing about a restaurant.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't think the 2 top vs 4 top is necessarily the actual gripe in the OP. We've had plenty of roomy 2 tops. BUT there are tops (regardless of 2 or 4) that are really more meant for drinks maybe an app or a dessert. It's not meant for dining actual meals. That in those cases is on the restaurant for purchasing those OR in some cases it's because those are found closer to the bar where they more expect you to not be ordering a full meal. We've had places that split the bar area with the more restaurant area. In those cases they'll ask you where you'd want to sit and in some cases if you're wanting the dining area that may mean you'll wait longer.

 

[MillauFr]

Just order less food. Problem solved.